Did Lincoln visit Missouri in 1840?

[Donna McCreary]

The problem is that Helm sometimes stretched the truth to make a better story. She is the one who started the story about Elizabeth Edwards serving as the hostess in the governor's mansion for her father-in-law who was a widower. That is a great story, but not true. First, his term as governor ended in 1830. He died before Elizabeth married Ninian. And he was not a widower because his wife out lived him by nine years.

Helm got her story from the letter written by North Todd Gentry. He also told the story of the sand bar.